Mexico accuses Adidas of cultural appropriation in sandal design

Hind Al Soulia - Riyadh - MEXICO CITY — Mexican authorities are accusing sportswear giant Adidas of plagiarizing traditional Indigenous craftsmanship, alleging that a new sandal design closely mirrors the iconic huaraches made by artisans in southern Mexico.

Officials in Oaxaca say the “Oaxaca Slip-On,” created by U.S. designer Willy Chavarría for Adidas Originals, features braided leather straps in a style rooted in the Zapotec Indigenous communities of Villa Hidalgo de Yalálag.

Instead of the traditional flat leather sole, the Adidas model incorporates a chunky, sports-style base.

President Claudia Sheinbaum said Friday that Adidas is already in talks with Oaxaca officials to provide “compensation for the people who were plagiarized” and that her government is preparing legal reforms to safeguard Mexican handicrafts from being copied.

For local shoemakers, the resemblance is unmistakable. “The artistry is being lost. We’re losing our tradition,” said Viridiana Jarquín García, a huaraches vendor in Oaxaca City.

Oaxaca’s government has demanded the sandals be withdrawn, along with a public apology from Adidas, calling the product “cultural appropriation” that may violate Mexican law.

“Culture isn’t sold, it’s respected,” Governor Salomón Jara Cruz said in a public letter to the company.

In response, Adidas said it “deeply values the cultural wealth of Mexico’s Indigenous people” and has asked to meet with officials to discuss ways to “repair the damage” to affected communities.

The dispute comes amid a broader push by Mexico’s government to defend Indigenous designs. In 2021, brands including Zara, Anthropologie and Patowl were called out for allegedly copying traditional patterns from Oaxaca’s artisans.

Officials are now exploring stricter protections, though Mexico’s undersecretary of cultural development, Marina Núñez, stressed the need to also create pathways for artisans to collaborate with global brands. — Agencies